Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Bukayo Saka will adopt a more central role as the club looks to rejuvenate its campaign after a disappointing start to the season.
The England international, initially named on the bench for Arsenal’s FA Cup clash against Wigan, was brought into the lineup at the last minute following Riccardo Calafiori’s injury during the warm-up.
Saka featured in midfield for the first time since April 2021, a position he has excelled in across five of his nearly 300 appearances for the club.
The move reflects Arteta’s desire to maximize the 24-year-old’s influence on games, especially after a Premier League campaign in which Saka has registered just four goals and three assists in 22 outings.
“That’s something that’s a possibility and I wanted to try it, and we might use it in the future,” Arteta said after the match.
“Well, he’s more central, he’s closer to the goal. It’s a bit more difficult for the opponent to get his reference constantly. He can interchange positions with a wide player as well, and he’s so good at picking those spaces. When he’s there, he can really hurt you with the ball.”
The move could prove particularly important given the struggles of Martin Ødegaard and Kai Havertz, both of whom have been hampered by injuries this season.
Arteta sees Saka stepping up as a central figure capable of linking play and creating opportunities, even if he is unlikely to become a permanent midfielder.
While the FA Cup tie against League One side Wigan provided a relatively straightforward test, the experiment offers a blueprint for how Arsenal might unlock Saka’s potential in more competitive matches.
